Cholesterol pleural effusion (Q89186)

Cholesterol pleural effusion is typically the result of long-standing pleurisy (pleuritis) with elevated cholesterol levels in the pleural space. Lung entrapment with thickened parietal and visceral pleural membranes is the typical radiographic findings of a cholesterol effusion. Most cases of cholesterol pleural effusions are attributed to tuberculous or rheumatoid pleurisy. Other far less common causes include neoplasm (e.g. lung cancer) and other infections (e.g. syphilis, echinococcosis). Patients generally present with a slowly progressive course of varying degrees of respiratory distress and chest pain, depending on the amount of fluid that has accumulated.